Goodwin, 22, flashed a lot of potential during his amateur career but it’s taken some time for his tools to start clicking on the field. The former 34th-overall selection spent 2012 playing at two levels and completely dominated A-ball before skipping over high-A for double-A where he struggled.

A talent evaluator I spoke with wasn’t worried about the outfielder’s difficulties in double-A. “He’s got a very, very interesting ceiling. [Goodwin] hits for average, power and has defensive skills,” he said. “He’s a wonderful young man… the make-up matches the ability. He’s very coachable, and a quick learner.” The contact added that Goodwin is also energetic and a hard worker. “His disposition is always the same whether he goes 4-for-4 or 0-for-4.”

Goodwin has a simply, short, quick swing with leverage. His approach is gap-to-gap but he has the power to punish a mistake. Both a scout and the talent evaluator agreed on that assessment of the prospect’s approach. The scout said, “He has chance to hit 15-20 homers down the line as he learns to lift the ball and establishes himself.” I’m also told that he’s learning to become a more effective bunter. In the field, Goodwin has a chance to be an above-average defender in center field with a solid-average arm. The scout I spoke with comped the prospect to Michael Bourn with more power in his prime. The scout suggested a 65-70 on Goodwin’s speed tool with the capability to steal 20-25 bases a season.

Goodwin will likely return to double-A to begin 2013 and will look to curb his strikeout rate, which jumped up to 27% from 14.7% with his promotion from A-ball. If everything clicks, he could be ready for the majors late in the season with 2014 being a more likely timeline. With the addition of center-fielder Denard Span from the Twins, the presence of superstar-in-the-making Bryce Harper and the contract commitment to Jayson Werth (through 2017), there is no need to rush Goodwin’s development.

Also, apparently Sammy Solis is keeping himself "in tremendous shape," the Nationals have no plans to move Rendon off 3B, and

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the organization preaches aggressiveness, not passiveness. “It can be a detriment to try and change a young hitter’s natural aggressiveness,” the contact said. “[Eury Perez] has a clear understanding of what he has to do to be successful.”

"The contact I spoke with said the Georgia native has made “incredible strides this year at third base” and has good hands and a strong arm but admitted Skole may never have great range. The prospect has gotten a lot of experience at first base lately, playing the position in both the fall instructional league and the Arizona Fall League in an effort to increase his versatility and possibly open up a direct route to the majors. “He has a chance to be a very good (fielding) first baseman,” the contact stated."

It depends on how much you're valuing ceiling vs. probability of reaching that ceiling, in my opinion.

I think it's definitely arguable that Goodwin's ceiling is higher than Rendon's. If you see Rendon only as a 20 HR guy, you might only project him as a David Freese type 3B (.293/.372/.467 this year) which is definitely valuable but not as big a deal as Goodwin if you think Goodwin is a similarly valuable hitter but as a plus-fielding CF.

We've gotten a bit spoiled in this franchise with a number of players who took steady routes to stardom (or "everyday playerdom") without major detours. Strasburg, Zimmerman, Zimmermann, Espinosa, Storen, Harper, Clippard after the trade, maybe others I can't think of. Besides injuries, those guys just kind of chugged along to their peaks (or are in the process of doing so currently).

But I think it's just as common for talented players to kind of zig and zag their way along - kind of like Desmond, Detwiler, maybe even Stammen. So it wouldn't surprise me at all if Ray or Hood took a major step forward this year, or if Skole or Goodwin took a step sideways. It's not supposed to work as smoothly as it has for the Nationals over the past 4 years or so.

The farm system really seems empty now which I suppose is to be expected after trades and early promotions. With our team being so young it shouldn't be that much of an issue but hopefully Rizzo works as hard at restocking it as he did when he first took over.

It depends on how much you're valuing ceiling vs. probability of reaching that ceiling, in my opinion.

I think it's definitely arguable that Goodwin's ceiling is higher than Rendon's. If you see Rendon only as a 20 HR guy, you might only project him as a David Freese type 3B (.293/.372/.467 this year) which is definitely valuable but not as big a deal as Goodwin if you think Goodwin is a similarly valuable hitter but as a plus-fielding CF.

If you see Rendon only as a 20 HR guy, you might only project him as a David Freese type 3B (.293/.372/.467 this year) which is definitely valuable but not as big a deal as Goodwin if you think Goodwin is a similarly valuable hitter but as a plus-fielding CF.

You could make an argument that quality 3Bs are harder to find than quality CFs.

A couple years ago, the Royals were supposed to have the best farm system of all time. Didn't really get them anywhere.

The Nats farm system did its job in improving the big league club. I wouldn't be all that surprised to see more prospects traded at midseason if the Nats need help. World Series or bust!

This. With the talent on the major league roster, we don't need a loaded farm system at this moment. Rizzo spent his time building it and then used it for the proper pieces of the puzzle.

We needed a front line pitcher last year. Rizzo went and got Gio. There is a decent chance that Norris, Peacock, Milone & Cole never turn out to be anything special. Prospects aren't guaranteed. When you can get a proven major league talent, you've got to go out and do it when it's reasonable.

Rizzo will spend the next 2-3 years rebuilding it. He built the farm system into what it was before the trades and he can hopefully rebuild it.

Also, anything can happen in the next year or two. Rendon could stay healthy and have a great year. Goodwin could take the next step. Solis may have a good year coming back from TJ. Giolito may be a stud by the end of 2014. There are a lot of question marks but also a lot of talent that could make this system really good again in a short period of time if things go the right way. I trust Rizzo to do it.

Milone is a quality MLB starter already. Jury remains out on the other 3. Though Norris is already the A's starter behind the plate so he's close to locking up his spot as a full-time MLB'er.

I said they may not turn out to be special. I never said they wouldn't be competent ML players.

And I seriously question Milone being a quality pitcher outside of Oakland. His ERA was in the high 4's IIRC. Norris had a sub .300 OBP. Could one of them become studs? Sure. They might also all turn out to be the definition of replacement level players. That's the fun of following prospects.